Grantham alley turned into a no-go area by dog mess

Irresponsible dog owners in North Parade, Grantham, are making residents’ lives a misery by leaving piles of dog mess outside their homes.

The passageway running alongside many of the residents’ bungalows off New Street, has become a prime target for people not picking up after their pets.

North parade signs

Residents are so fed up with having to watch their step that they have now taken it upon themselves to clean it up.

Simon Ward, 78, has lived on North Parade for 15 years. He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. Not only does it leave an unpleasant smell but many of the elderly residents living in the bungalows rely on the passageway to access their homes and to get into town.

“A few of them are in wheelchairs which makes it even more difficult to navigate around all the mess. We’re left with little choice but to clean it up ourselves. There’s often one or two of us out there each morning with buckets, shovelling the mess up and hosing the path down.”

Neighbours have now put up signs in a bid to deter any more dog fouling but are calling on the council to help.

Simon added: “It used to be a such lovely place to live but now it feels like its being turned into a slum. As well as the dog mess, groups of youths gather in the car park at night to drink and play loud music.

“We’ve had enough.”

District and county councillor Ray Wootten said: “I take all reports and concerns about this type of anti-social behaviour very seriously. Residents shouldn’t have to live with this sort of behaviour on their doorstep. Depending on the situation, I’d advise any of the residents to either contact me, the police or speak to South Kesteven District Council to get the issues resolved.”

Dog pooh can infect people with worms from contact with the egg, bacterial infections and germs that breed in moisture, while dogs can contract canine parvovirus, canine hepatitis, bacterial and viral infections and canine gastroenteritis. If the pooh is not picked up and breaks down in soil, some of these diseases can be present in that soil for up to two years.

Do you have a problem with dog mess in your area? Email comment@granthamjournal.co.uk